# Database Cleanup

## Database Stats

At the top, you’ll see four important numbers:

![database clean up](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/database-clean-up.png)

- **Total Database Size**: How big your database is (right now it shows 0 B)

- **Total Records**: How many things are stored in your database (right now it shows 0)

- **30-Day Growth Estimate**: How much your database might grow in 30 days

- **Avg. Daily Records**: How many new things are added each day

## Overview Tab

This is the main dashboard that shows you:

- Your total database size

- How many records (items) are in your database

- How your database is growing

- Average daily records being added

### Turn On Automatic Cleanup

You’ll see two toggle switches:

- **Enable Automatic Cleanup** – This automatically removes old, unnecessary data from your database

- **Enable Archiving Before Deletion** – This saves a copy of data before removing it (good for safety)

Both are turned ON by default, which is usually best for most websites.

### Clean Up Your Database

In the “Database Cleanup” section, you can:

- Select which tables (parts of your database) to clean

- Delete old records that you don’t need anymore

Right now, it shows “No log tables found” which means your database is already clean!

### Retention Policies Tab

This tab helps you control how long data stays in your database.

![retention policy](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/retention-policy.png)

### What It Does:

- **Configure Retention Periods**: You can set how many days to keep records in each part of your database

- **Save Retention Policies**: Click this blue button to save your settings

### Why This Matters:

- Keeping your database clean means your website runs faster

- You can choose how long to keep different types of data

- This helps prevent your database from getting too big and slow

## Archives Tab

This tab shows you archived records – data that has been saved before being deleted.

![archive tab](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/archive.png)

### What You’ll See:

- **Archived Records**: Any data that was archived (saved) before cleanup

- Right now it shows “No archives found” which means your database is clean!

### Why Archives Are Good:

- They act like a backup before data gets deleted

- You can review what was removed if needed

- Makes cleanup safer because you can always restore archived data

## History Tab

This tab keeps track of all the cleanup activities.

![history tab](https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/history.png)

### What It Shows:

- **Cleanup History**: A log of everything the plugin has cleaned up

- Right now it shows “No cleanup history found” which means the plugin hasn’t done any cleanups yet, or it’s a new installation

### Why History Is Helpful:

- You can see what was cleaned and when

- Helps you track how your database is being maintained

- Good for troubleshooting if something goes wrong

## Important Tips:

- Always save your changes by clicking “Save Changes” at the bottom

- If you make a mistake, you can “Discard Changes” to go back

- Start with the default settings if you’re not sure what to do

- These features help keep your website fast and secure!

Important Notes

- Automatic cleanup helps keep your site running fast

- Archiving before deletion is like making a backup before cleaning – it’s safer

- You can always turn these features off if you prefer to clean your database manually

- Click “Save Changes” to keep your settings, or “Discard Changes” to go back to how things were

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Source: https://docs.wpultimatesecurity.com/docs/maintenance-tools/database-cleanup/